Academy of American Studies junior outside hitter Michal Kasza had 25 kills and 10 aces in a non-league game against Bronx Science on Wednesday.Erin Edwards

The Academy of American Studies players were fired up. The Eagles have cruised in league play, but Wednesday they got a chance to play Bronx Science in a non-league match featuring two of the city’s top teams. American Studies came in ranked No. 1 in New York City by The Post and Science was No. 2.

“It was a little bit of excitement in the air,” Eagles coach Josh Yang said. “You get a little bit of jitters. We haven’t had that in awhile.”

Academy of American Studies was able to hold its top spot with a 25-22, 25-19, 25-17 win over Science in non-league boys volleyball Wednesday night in Long Island City. Yang did admit it was somewhat anticlimactic, because Science star middle hitter Alex Barbulescu was out with an ankle injury, but it was another win in a big week. The Eagles defeated No. 3 New Utrecht in a scrimmage Monday and will compete in the John F. Kennedy tournament on Sunday.

“I think it was still one of the more competitive matches we’ve played,” Yang said of an undermanned Bronx Science squad.

Academy of American Studies advanced to the PSAL city championship match last year and Yang sees vast improvement in this group. The entire nucleus is playing club ball with the AllStarr program. They actually have a tournament with AllStarr on Saturday, which is why the Eagles are not in the loaded Tottenville or Cardozo tournament.

“These kids are just coming into their own really,” Yang said. “I’ve seen Piotr do things and I’m just like, ‘wow.’ It blows me away.”

The coach said the one thing his team has to improve on is confidence when it gets on the court. He said Michal Kasza asked him during the Science match if he should be hitting line or cross court and just a general strategy on how to attack the Wolverines. Yang told him not to adjust his play – they should adjust to him.

“We know we’re good, but when we get into the game they don’t play as confidently as they should,” Yang said. “Everyone has to adjust to us. They don’t realize how skilled and how good and how dominant we are.”

And Michal Kasza has become arguably the top outside hitter in the city. Even when American Studies struggled in the first set, Piotr, his brother, just kept feeding him

“Everyone in the gym knows it’s going to him and he just puts it away,” Yang said.